Seat belt buckle



21u55. E969 R. c. FISHER SEAT BELT BUCKLE 2 Sheets-Sheei l Filed April lO, 1967 A AJAAAAAAAAAAf INVENTOR I lima Dec. T116, F1969 R. c. FISHER 3,4%3599 SEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed April lO, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

` if 770%@ 774 7f3/ef United States Patent O Int. Cl. A4413 1]/28 ILS. Cl. 24-230 10 Ciaims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety belt buckle assembly comprising a belt tongue having means thereon dening a latching surface, a base member, a latching member defining a latching face selectively engageable with the latching surface of the tongue for limiting relative movement between the tongue and the base member, a spring member resiliently urging the latching member into engagement with the tongue, a manually engageable Operator member, a cover member fabricated of a moldable plastic material mounted on the base member and defining an opening through which the operator member is accessible, and linkage means including a latch lever member operatively connecting the operator member with the latching member, whereby prese ected movement of the operator member relative to the cover member results in disengagement f the latching member from the tongue; the linkage means being of a geometry so as to provide a mechanical advantage to permit disengagement of the latching member from the tongue with a minimum amount of movement of the operator member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction of safety belt buckle assemblies, it is desirable to minimize the effort required to disengage the latching or securing means of the buckle assembly from the belt tongue or other latch member which is releasably secured within the buckle assembly, thereby facilitating rapid removal of the belt. The seat belt buckle assembly of the present invention satisfies this requirement through the provision of a novel mechanical linkage arrangement operatively connecting a manually engageable operator member with the latching member which releasably secures an associated belt tongue within the buckle assembly. The linkage means is constructed in a manner such as to provide a mechanical advantage between the operator member and the latching member, whereby the latching member will become disengaged from the belt tongue with a minimum amount of move- Y ment of the operator member, thereby minimizing to the extreme the time and effort required to remove the belt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to buckle assemblies and, more particularly, to a new and improved buckle assembly adapted to find particularly useful application in operative association with automotive seat belts.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buckle assembly for a seat belt.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a seat belt buckle assembly of the above character which minimizes to the extreme, the effort required to release an associated belt tongue member from the buckle assembly.

It is still a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buckle assembly of the above character which reduces the effort required for releasing the tongue through a novel linkage system providing a mechanical advantage between the releasing member and the latching member.

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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a buckle assembly of the above character which may be assembled without the use of any pins, screws, keys, or the like, thereby minimizing assembly time and attendant manufacturing expenses.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE l is a top elevational view of the buckle assembly of the present invention showing the associated belt tongue member removed therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is alongitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the buckle assembly illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, with the belt tongue inserted into the buckle assembly;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 4, with the manual operator member and latch plate disposed in a tongue release condition;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 7, as taken substantially along the line 8 8 of FIGURE 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, a safety belt buckle assembly 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown as comprising a belt bar 11, a base member 12, a latch lever 13, a latch plate 14, a latch spring 16, a push button or manual operator member 18, and a cover member 20. As will hereinafter be described in detail, the assembly 10 is adapted to releasably receive an associated belt tongue member 36 within one end thereof, while one end portion 34 of an associated fabric or similar type seat belt section 36 is adapted to be adjustably secured within the opposite (left) end o-f the assembly 10 by being looped around the bar 11. An end portion 37 of the associated seat belt section 3S is secured to the tongue member 30 by suitable stitching, as seen at 39.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the base member 12 is of a generally channel-like configuration in transverse crosssection and comprises a central web section 40 and a pair of upstanding, spaced parallel flange portions 42 and 44 which are disposed along opposite sides of the web section 40. The flange portions 42 and 44 are formed with a pair of laterally aligned apertures 46 and 48, respectively, for receiving and operatively supporting a pair of ear portions Stb and 52 formed on opposite sides of the latch plate 14. It will be noted that the plate 14 is supported for pivotal movement relative to the ybase 12 and at the same time is retained against movement longitudinally of the base 12 by the ear portions 50 and 52. The latch plate 14 defines a latching face 54 on an offset central portion 56 thereof, the face 54 being selectively engageable with a complementary-shaped latch surface 58 dened at one end of a generally rectangularly-shaped aperture formed in the tongue member 30, whereby to lockingly secure the tongue member 30 within the assembly 10.

As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the latch plate 14 is normally Ibiased downwardly toward the latched position (see FIGURE 4) by the latch spring 16 which comprises a pair of arcuate-shaped finger portions 66 and 62 that overly a pair of curved tab sections 64 and 66, respectively, formed on opposite sides of the olTset portion 56 of the latch plate 14. The finger portions 60 and 62 of the spring 16 are secured to a laterally extending portion 67 which in turn is connected to a pair of longitudinally extending side portions 68 and 70. The portions 68 and 70 are provided with `bosses or detents 72 and 74, respectively, adapted to be received within complementary-shaped apertures 76 78 that are formed in the flange portions 42 and 44 of the base member 12, whereby to positively maintain the spring 16 in the operative position shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5.

The latch lever 13 is formed with a pair of laterally outwardly extending ears 80 and 82 which are adapted to be received within a pair of laterally aligned, trapezoidshaped apertures 84 and 86 formed in the flange portion 42 and 44 of the base member 12, thereby supporting the lever 13 for rotational movement relative to the base member 12. The lever 13 includes an arcuate-shaped y upstanding portion 90, the upper end of which abuts against the underside of the manual operator member 18, with the result that when the member 18 is depressed, the latch lever 13 is biased in a clockwise direction in FIGURES 4 and 5, thereby effecting clockwise rotation of the latch plate 14, as will later be described.

As `best seen in FIGURE 2, the operator member 18 is formed with a pair of laterally outwardly disposed ears 92 and 94 that are adapted to be received and retained Within a pair of laterally aligned recesses or cutouts 96 and 98 formed in the ends of the ange portions 42 and 44, respectively, of the base member 12, whereby to retain the operator member 18 in the position shown in the drawings and support it for both rotation and vertical translation. As illustrated by comparing FIGURES 4 and 5, downward movement of the operator member 18 effects simultaneous downward movement of the upstanding portion 90 of the latch lever 13. As the portion 90 is biased downwardly, a laterally extending portion 100 on the lever 13 is pivoted upwardly, thereby engaging the underside of the fingers 60 and 62 of the latch plate 14 to force the plate 14 upwardly relative to the web portion 40 of the base member 12. As will be apparent, when the plate 14 is thus biased upwardly, the face 54 thereof will move out of engagement with the latch surface 58 to permit disassembly of the tongue member 30.

The belt bar 11, about which the end portion 34 of the belt section 36 is looped, is formed with reduced thickness end portions that are disposed within laterally aligned, complementary-shaped slots 110 and 112 formed in the flange portions 42 and 44 of the base member 12, thereby securing the belt section 36 to the assembly 10.

The cover member 20 is preferably fabricated of a plastic or similar type economically and easily moldable material and is intended to be snapped onto the upper side of the base member 12, the inherent resiliency or the plastic material providing a mechanical interlock with the member 12. A generally rectangularly-shaped central aperture 113 is provided in the cover member 28 and, upon assembly, is adapted to register with the operator member 18 to provide convenient manual access thereto.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the geometry of the internal components of the :buckle assembly 10 is such that the direction of movement of the latch face 54 on the latch plate 14 is generally parallel to the plane thereof and opposite to the direction of movement of the operator member 18 when the same is manually actuated. Moreover, the latch lever 13 conveniently employs the principles of leverage to effect such opposed movement of the latch plate 14 and operator member 18, thereby providing a mechanical advantage to substantially minimize the requisite release eort. In particular, it will be seen that the upstanding portion 90 of the latch lever 13 is of considerably greater effective length than the lever portion 100. Accordingly, the amount 4 of energy or effort applied to the lever 13 through the manual operator member 18 and lever portion 90 for biasing the latch plate 14 out of engagement with the tongue 30 is considerably less than would .be necessary if the lever portions and 100 were of substantially equal effective lengths.

It will be noted in FIGURES 4 and 5 that an edge 114 of the web section 40 and an angled portion 116 of the latch plate 14 are disposed in close parallel laterally aligned relation so as to define a slot for the acceptance of the tongue 30.

The seat belt buckle assembly 18 of the present invention is assembled by first aligning the ears 80 and 82 of the latch lever 13 with their respective apertures 84 and 86 in the flange portions 42 and 44 of the Ibase member 12, and thereafter snapping the latch lever 13 into engagement with member 12. The latch plate 14 is then installed in a similar manner by inserting the ears S0 and 52 thereof into engagement with the apertures 46 and 48 of the flange portions 42 and 44. The latch spring 16 is then assembled by inserting the detents 72 and 74 into the apertures 76 and 78 of the flange portions 42 and 44 of the base member 12. It will be appreciated that during the insertion of the latch spring 16, the finger portions 60 and 62 thereof will readily pass over the latch plate tabs 64 and 66 so as to bias the latch plate 14 downwardly, as hereinabove described. The manual operator member 18 is then placed upon the base 12 in a manner such that the ears 92 and 94 thereof are disposed within the cutouts 96 and 98 in the flange portions 42 and 44.

The looped end portion 34 of the belt section 36 is next inserted through a generally rectangularly-shaped slot 118 formed in the web portion 40 of the base member 12, and the bar 11 inserted through the belt loop. The ends of the bar 11 are then snapped into the pair of elongated mounting slots and 112 formed in the flange portions 42 and 44, as best shown in FIGURE 6. Finally, the cover member 20 is secured to the 4base member 12 by inserting a pair of laterally inwardly extending projections 120 and 122, which are integrally formed on the lower side of the cover 20, into a pair of notches 124 and 126, respectively, in the flange portions `42 and 44. This may be accomplished by pivoting the cover member 20 downwardly over the flange portions 42 and 44. The frictional engagement of the cover member 20 with the flanges 42 and 44 of the base 12 serves to fixedly secure the member 20 on the assembly 10.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that assembly of the buckle 10 is achieved through the interlocking of all component parts in direct stress transfer relationship with each other, thereby obviating the need for any screws, pins, keys or similar type fastening means, with the result that the assembly time and attendant manufacturing expense is minimized to the extreme.

Adjusting the length of the belt section 36 is effected by titling the buckle assembly 10 relative to the belt portion 34. When the buckle 10 is so tilted, the ybelt 36 may be conveniently adjusted with one hand by merely pulling on either the buckle or the free end of the belt section 36.

While it will be apparent that the exemplary embodiment illustrated herein is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that buckle assembly 10 of the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a safety belt buckle assembly,

a belt tongue having means thereon defining la latching surface,

a base member,

a latch member overlying said tongue and defining a latching face selectively engageable with said latching surface of said tongue for limiting relative movement between said tongue and Said base member,

a pivotably mounted manually engageable operator means,

cover means defining an opening through which said operator means is accessible, and

linkage means supported on said base member and operatively connecting said operator means with said latch member,

said linkage means comprising lever means pivotably mounted on said base member and having a first lever arm portion engageable with said operator means and a second lever arm portion engageable with said latch member, the effective length of said first lever arm portion being greater than the effective length of said second lever arm portion, whereby to provide a mechanical advantage such that downward movement of said operator means effects pivotal movement of said lever means to bias said latching face upwardly away from said latching surface on said belt tongue with a minimum amount of movement of said operator means.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member is fabricated of a moldable material and comprises a pair of projections at one end thereof, wherein said manual operator means comprises a pair of ear portions, wherein said base member comprises a central web section having flange portions on the opposite sides thereof, said web section being formed with aperture means for receiving a looped portion of an associated safety belt, which includes bar means insertable through the looped portion of the belt for securing the belt to the assembly, and wherein said flange portions are formed with a plurality Of pairs of laterally aligned openings adapted to receive the opposite ends of said bar means, said projections and said ear portions for supporting said bar means, said cover member and said operator means on said base member.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for resiliently biasing said latch member toward said tongue.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base member comprises a central web section and flange portions extending outwardly from said web section.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein one edge portion of said web section is disposed in spaced parallel relation with a portion of said latch member, whereby to define an opening for removably receiving said belt tongue.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 which includes resilient means normally biasing said latch member toward said tongue, said resilient means comprising at least one retaining arm engageable with one of said flanges on said base member.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of retaining arms having means engageable with said flanges of said base member, a pair of pressure-exerting fingers engageable with means on said latch member for normally biasing said latch member toward said belt tongue, and a transverse portion interconnecting said retaining arms and said pressureexerting fingers.

8. In a safety belt buckle assembly,

a belt tongue having means thereon defining a latching surface,

a base member comprising a central web section and a pair of spaced parallel flange portions extending outwardly from said web section and having recess means therein,

a latch member overlying said tongue and defining a latching face selectively engageable with said latching surface of said tongue for limiting relative movement between said tongue and said base member,

means for resiliently biasing said latch member toward said tongue,

said resilient means comprising a pair of retaining arms having means engageable with said flange portions of said base member, a pair of pressure-exerting fingers engageable with means on said latch member for normally biasing said latch member toward said belt tongue, and a transverse portion interconnecting said retaining arms and said pressure-exerting fingers,

manually engageable operator means comprising a pair of ear portions adapted to be received within said recess means, whereby said operator means is pivotably mounted on said base member,

cover means defining an opening through which said operator means is accessible, and

linkage means operatively connecting said Operator means with said latch member,

said linkage means comprising a first lever arm engageable with said operator means and a second lever arm engageable with said latch member, whereby movement of said operator means against said linkage means effects preselected rotational movement of Said linkage means against said latch member to disengage said latching face from said latching surface,

said latch member and said linkage means including projection means insertable within said recess means for operatively supporting said latch member and linkage means on said base member.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said linkage means comprises a latch lever member having a first lever arm portion engageable with said operator means and a second lever arm portion engageable with said latch member, the effective length of one of said arm portions being greater than the effective length of the other of said arm portions, whereby preselected movement of said operator means effects rotation of said latch lever in a manner such that said latching face of said latch lever is biased away from said latching surface on said belt tongue.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cover member is fabricated of a moldable material `and includes projection means on at least one end thereof, and wherein said base member includes means engageable with said projection means for fixedly securing said cover member to said base member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,170,211 2/1965 Van Noord. 3,321,817 5/1967 Smith. 3,331,108 7/ 1967 Fisher. 3,343,229 9/1967 Tanaka. 3,345,712 10/1967 Smith. 3,349,445 10/1967 Foster. 3,355,781 12/1967 Silberschlag.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 24-75, 196 

